Eaton Shareholders' Equity Eaton Shareholders' Equity (Textuals) (Details)	0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 26, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 21, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 EUR (€)	Oct. 22, 2013
Shareholders Equity Textuals Abstract
Common shares authorized			750,000,000
Eaton Corporation plc ordinary share par value			$ 0.01
Ordinary shares issued and outstanding			475,100,000	470,700,000
Deferred ordinary shares authorized			40,000
Deferred ordinary shares par value							€ 1.00
Deferred ordinary shares, shares issued and outstanding			40,000	40,000
Preferred A Shares authorized			10,000
Preferred A Shares par value			$ 1.00
Preferred A Shares, Shares Issued			10,000	10,000
Preferred A Shares, Shares Outstanding			10,000	10,000
Serial preferred shares authorized			10,000,000
Serial preferred share par value per share			$ 0.01
Serial preferred shares, shares issued and outstanding			0	0
Number of holders of record of Eaton ordinary shares			19,538
Number of current and former employees who were shareholders through various Eaton plans			28,128
Disclosure of Repurchase Agreements [Abstract]
2007 common share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased			10,000,000
2007 share repurchase program, shares purchased					8,300,000
Payments for stock repurchased under 2007 programs					$ 343,000,000
2011 Retired Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased		20,000,000
2011 share repurchase program, maximum aggregate purchase price of shares authorized		1,250,000,000
2013 share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased								40,000,000
2013 stock repurchase program, authorized repurchase price as percent of Eaton closing share price, low range								70.00%
2013 stock repurchase program, authorized repurchase price as percent of Eaton closing share price, high range								120.00%
2013 share repurchase program, shares purchased			0
2011 share repurchase progam, shares purchased				0
Quarterly dividends, per share, declared	$ 0.49		$ 1.68	$ 1.52	$ 1.36
Quarterly dividends payable, amount per share						$ 0.49
Employee Trust [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan trust of shares and marketable secutities			$ 24,000,000	$ 12,000,000
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			200,000	2,200,000	1,500,000